Fredericksburg's Vicky Jasparro Breaks 10K Record

Vicky Jasparro of Fredericksburg finished first in the Turkey Trot 10K, the final race in the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Event Series, according to Amy Beaulieu, Communications Coordinator for the Marine Corps Marathon.

The 39-year-old led the women's division, finishing the 6.2-mile course in 39:22.  Jasparro set a new Turkey Trot 10K record for the women's division, Beaulieu said. The previous record of 39:38 was set at the first MCM-organized Turkey Trot 10K in 2008.

"It was a beautiful day for running," Jasparro said. "I'm a competitive runner, and parts of this course were challenging. I really enjoyed it."

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Michael Krisman won the men's division.  He  completed the course in 35:41.  It was the 36-year-old Montclair resident's  MCM debut event.

"I just arrived in the area this summer and had never run any of these (MCM) races before," LCDR Krisman said. "It was a lot harder than I thought, but it was a good course and well laid-out. Those hills were just tough at mile five."

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hetherington, USMC (ret.), 45, of Vienna, Va, received the male Masters Award, for runners age 40 and above, finishing in 36:32. "LtCol Hetherington has achieved numerous top finishes in previous MCM events and is a member of the MCM Hall of Fame," Beaulieu said.

Springfield, Va., runner Yuko Whitestone, 40, led the women in the Masters category, finishing the Turkey Trot in 43:16. Whitestone also achieved finishes at the top of the leader board in the Irish Sprint 10K and Gender Defender 5K, earlier races in the 2012 MCM Event Series.

Sixteen runners achieved "perfect attendance" by participating in all MCM 2012 Event Series races, the Historic Half Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon, and they were recognized at the award ceremony.

Prior to the Turkey Trot 10K start, nearly 150 children ages nine and under ran the Turkey Trot Kids Mile, a just-for-fun one mile out-and-back run on the streets surrounding Lejeune Hall.

Other Turkey Trot 10K winners from Fredericksburg were:

• Alexis Viola (age 14) - 47:19 for first place in her age division.
• Dan Gray (age 33) - 38:59 for second place in his age division.
• Karen Darden (age 46) - 54:32 for second place in her age division.
• Jack Morrison (age 53) - 40:31 for first place in his age division.
• James Riordan (age 58) - 46:44 for second place in his age division.

Registration for the 2013 MCM Event Series opens on Jan. 23, 2013, at www.marinemarathon.com.